A [[Display Manager|display manager]] can be used to provide a login screen and start the [[X server]]. This article explains how this can be done using an existing virtual terminal.

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This article explains how to have the [[X server]] start automatically right after logging in at a virtual terminal. This is achieved by running the ''startx'' command, whose behaviour can be customized as described in the [[xinitrc]] article, for example for choosing what [[window manager]] to launch. Alternatively, a [[display manager]] can be used to start X automatically and provide a graphical login screen.

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To manually start X, {{ic|startx}} is used, which will execute {{ic|~/.xinitrc}}, which may be customized to start the window manager of choice as described in the [[xinitrc]] article.

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== Shell profile files ==

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== Shell profile file ==

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{{Note|These solutions run X on the same tty used to login, which is required in order to maintain the login session.}}

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{{Note|This runs X on the same tty used to login, which is required in order to maintain the login session.}}

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* For [[Bash]], add the following to the bottom of {{ic|~/.bash_profile}}. If the file does not exist, copy a skeleton version from {{ic|/etc/skel/.bash_profile}}. <br> For [[Zsh]], add it to {{ic|~/.zprofile}} instead.

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* For [[Bash]], add the following to the bottom of {{ic|~/.bash_profile}}. If the file does not exist, copy a skeleton version from {{ic|/etc/skel/.bash_profile}}.

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* For [[Zsh]], add it to {{ic|~/.zprofile}} instead.

{{bc|1=<nowiki>

{{bc|1=<nowiki>

[[ -z $DISPLAY && $XDG_VTNR -eq 1 ]] && exec startx

[[ -z $DISPLAY && $XDG_VTNR -eq 1 ]] && exec startx

</nowiki>}}

</nowiki>}}

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{{Note|You can replace the {{ic|-eq 1}} comparison with one like {{ic|-le 3}} (for vt1 to vt3) if you want to use graphical logins on more than one VT.}}

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{{Note|

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* You can replace the {{ic|-eq 1}} comparison with one like {{ic|-le 3}} (for vt1 to vt3) if you want to use graphical logins on more than one VT.

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* X must always be run on the same tty where the login occurred, to preserve the logind session. This is handled by the default {{ic|/etc/X11/xinit/xserverrc}}.

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}}

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{{Note|X must always be run on the same tty where the login occurred, to preserve the logind session. This is handled by the default {{ic|/etc/X11/xinit/xserverrc}}.}}

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* For [[Fish]], add the following to the bottom of your {{ic|~/.config/fish/config.fish}}.

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{{bc|1=<nowiki>

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# start X at login

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if status --is-login

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if test -z "$DISPLAY" -a $XDG_VTNR = 1

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exec startx

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end

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end

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</nowiki>}}

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== Tips ==

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== Tips and tricks ==

* This method can be combined with [[automatic login to virtual console]]. When doing this you have to set correct dependencies for the autologin systemd service to ensure that dbus is started before {{ic|~/.xinitrc}} is read and hence pulseaudio started (see: [https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=155416 BBS#155416])

* This method can be combined with [[automatic login to virtual console]]. When doing this you have to set correct dependencies for the autologin systemd service to ensure that dbus is started before {{ic|~/.xinitrc}} is read and hence pulseaudio started (see: [https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=155416 BBS#155416])

Revision as of 19:16, 24 November 2013

This article explains how to have the X server start automatically right after logging in at a virtual terminal. This is achieved by running the startx command, whose behaviour can be customized as described in the xinitrc article, for example for choosing what window manager to launch. Alternatively, a display manager can be used to start X automatically and provide a graphical login screen.

Shell profile files

Note: These solutions run X on the same tty used to login, which is required in order to maintain the login session.

For Bash, add the following to the bottom of ~/.bash_profile. If the file does not exist, copy a skeleton version from /etc/skel/.bash_profile. For Zsh, add it to ~/.zprofile instead.

[[ -z $DISPLAY && $XDG_VTNR -eq 1 ]] && exec startx

Note:

You can replace the -eq 1 comparison with one like -le 3 (for vt1 to vt3) if you want to use graphical logins on more than one VT.

X must always be run on the same tty where the login occurred, to preserve the logind session. This is handled by the default /etc/X11/xinit/xserverrc.

For Fish, add the following to the bottom of your ~/.config/fish/config.fish.

Tips and tricks

This method can be combined with automatic login to virtual console. When doing this you have to set correct dependencies for the autologin systemd service to ensure that dbus is started before ~/.xinitrc is read and hence pulseaudio started (see: BBS#155416)

If you would like to remain logged in when the X session ends, remove exec.